Railway-signal.



Patented May I; [900. S. C. PRENTISS. RAILWAY SIGNAL.

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Modal.)

No. 648,432. Patented May l, |900. S. C. PREN'TISS. RAILWAY SIGNAL.

(Appuminn med June 1o, 189s.) (No Nudel.)

3 Sheath-Shack A2 vPatented May I, i900. S. C. PRENTISS.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

(Application led Junn 10, 189B.'

QMW @www UNI-TED .Sfllvris's'V SEYMOUR c.rREN'riss,OFIDETROIT,MCHIGAN. l A i .i

' srscmcazrxos forming put of meer rm'nt N6. 648.432, dated myn, 1900.

` t mllwlinn Intimiste. sesnrtasnsz. numana .Be it known that I, SEYMQUR Michigan, have invented certain new-and'usefullmprovemenis in Railwayignals; and I whichit appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention :relates to electric railwaysignals.

. cuit-closer. of my improved track instrument. an

Figs.6 and 7 'are sectional details' of the ein, cuit-closing and circuit-breaking trackin-` l strnments, respectively. Fig. 8 is a like sec- The objectof the invention is tosimplfy and -improveth construction and increase the ediciency of thc' apparatus; and Ait consists in :the `novel features of construction, arrangement, and'cornbinationof the parte, as 'hereinafter fully described, and specificallf' pointed out in the claims.

f n the drawings, Figure lexhibits diagrammatic'allyithe -relative arrangement of tlie severallparts of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is Aa side elevation of my novel form of relay and circuit-closing terminals. Fig. 3 isasectional view through the terminals and the relay cir- Fig. 4 is a side view in elevation Fig. 5.s end view. thereof, partially in' section.

tional detail showing a modified ,or alternative construction vof parts of the instrument,

a andFig 9 is a'diagrammatic'representation.of

anfarrang'e'ment'of the apparatus applicable to non-electric railways or where 'a battery is nsedlinstead--ofcurrent from a dynamo.

" -Afrepresents the feed-wire ofan electric railway. B1 represents the signal-wire; C, the

signal or alarm; D,

the relay; E E2 Es, dsc., lamps interposed asa resistance between-the feedwrire and the relay.

F G H -i'ciiiesent normally-closed' circuitbreaking track instruments and I J represent normally-open circuit-closing track in' struments. i

'insulated portions'thereot` to which thein-V Krepresent's the track, and k lai blocked or struments I'la-re'electrically connected.

By the terms blocked? and insulated is meant not in electrical connection, normally, with any other structure or device other- )vise than by the signal connections herein described.

C. lfansrxss', f a'citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in .thecounty of.,Way ue andstate of4 i he track instruments are arranged beside 55 the rails in the followingmanner: O ne'of the instruments F- G Il is locatedatiorf-nar the crossing or 'other point-to he prte'ctdiad the other two at suitable distances,`one in' each direction, therefrom. The signal' and 6o alarm'is located ator near the crossing or other" desired point which is tobe protected. One',l

of thc track instrumentsl J is located -neai each of the distant instruments E I-I, 'hilt in thedirection of "the crossingtherefroni, vand 6 5' the blocked or insulated 'rails Ick' are eaehj .J

located near one .of the instrumental J, fand; preferably in the direction of the crossing therefrom, although obviously itfmg'ht be lof cated in the other direction. A'- lhe blocked o'r '7o insulated rails are preferablyplaced ata diss* tance from the instrumental orJ equal -t0.,0' r not exceeding lthat lbetween `the tvogazles of a car.

Two separated circuit-terminalsl ma'i'eso 75 arranged with referenceto the armaturen of -the relay -D that when the magnet-coils 'p jp are energizedthe movement-of thearma'tnre willclose circnit'between the terminals l m, as lereinafter more particularly described', 8c and complete a circuit through them.v

The electrical circuits are run as follows:

y The signal-wire B connects the feed`-. wire .1vitl1v one terminal of the inagnetfcoils p p and has the lamps E E2 E", Jac., connectedin series 8,5- thereon and the alarm C connected in a shunt around one of the lamps', as E?. 1 -Froin one of the circuit-terminals, asA l, a circuit extends to and'through the track in tdruments F, H, and'G to the' other terminal o the mag- 9o A- net-coils, and from the other circuit-terminal m a-wire 2 3- is run to the'track or ground, and 'if tothe track is preferablyjunto' the line'ofrails K-oppo'site that in which the blocked rails 7s4 1c arelocated. iThis circuit 95 -includes the wires 19 20 21 22 23, and itisob vious that when circuit is closed at .the terminals l '1n-the current will' pass from4 the feed-wire through the' wire B,.thc lamps, the alarm, the magnet-coils, the instruments G, 1I, andvF, theV terminals l m, and wire 23 to the .track or gronud,lthnskeeping the relay energized, the circuit clcsed,and the alarm in action until .the circuit is brpken at one of the instruments F, G, or H.

v .Each-,ofthe circuit-closing instruments I J is connected on oneside to the'insulatnd rail 7c' or lc' nearest it and on the other side-.tothe instrument t-` or ll beyond it, as by the wires 2t ci 25 are. a car has passed over either of thc'instru ments I or J in thc direction of thc crossing until its forward wheels rest on thc blocked rail/r or L", while its hinder wheel is on the instrument I or J, a circuit will be closed from the feed-wire to the grounded rail KL through tlicniagiiet-coils, wire "2, instruinenttv, wire in'gbfcithcroftlicsc circti its thus energizes the relay 1 andncanscs .the armature oto iigagc 'andclosccircuit through the tern ina s in, audthus vconi plete the first-described circuit,

.causing the lamps to burn and the alarm to .sound untilthe circuit is broken, which is dono as Soon as the ear'passes over thc middle instrument tt.'

"lhc track instruments F tt lt are construct i keeping the circuit closed-until, it is broken ed as follows: A curvcdbar 3U is su pport-cd on springs 3l close beside but not touching the track l\'gnards IFI being preferably arranged to liii'iit the lift ot' the springs Si. A closed case 32 is set beneath the liar .'iu, and within this .case spring-'contacts 133, insulated from llic case i; 'andarraiigod to hc normally` in contact with acondiictiiig-plate IM, supported by but' isolated from a pin 35, which prot rudes lthrough the top 'ol' case 3'. sufficiently to' be engaged and forced downward h v the bar SiO wheiitlie latter is depressed b v the passage of the car-'wheel over the same. 'l`he pin 35 @is so supported by any suitable spring or springs, as .7 6 or its equivalent, thatthe eon ducting-plate Iltis kept normally iii engage# ment withltlic contacts 33, to which tlie eir' euit-wircs,'as 192|', are connected, so as to normally iiiaiittain t-lie circuit complete througlrf theiustruineiit., but tn break circuit withthe least. amount of movement and without friction on the contacts.

v. ilhc track inst rniiientslJ differ from the ini; struments F G ll only in that the. contacts 3.1".

are so formed and the cond uct ing-plate tis so supported that they are normally ontof -ontact, but are forced int-o contact `by the de pression ofthe bar Ilo. Iii .all of the instrumenti-i Sla represents insulating material upon which thc-contactsarc support cd. 37 is insu; lating'niaterial 'insulating the plate .'34 from the pin It, and 4S represent-s sottrubber packing secured to the top of ease 3'. and through which the ptn lzl'i passes with 'so close a ni, ...1

tocxcltide dirt and' moisture. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the spring ISG, which upholds thepin 235, bears directly against a collet-Un,

secured to -the pin 35, to which collar the spring bt'niay, if preferred, be fast-cned, or the collar $510 may with ad vantage be extended into or replaced by abar 3', rigidly secured to the piti 35 and supported at each end hya spring 36, as shown in h`ig. 8, which will lmore MTeetuaIIy guide the plunger in a direct 'lhc 'result ot this is that whenline and enable a'siinpler `forni of spring to be used. 1 j

The circuit-terminals l m c qtnprise the lxed contact-pieces 40 41, insulated from 'each certain degree of s pri ngiiiess, and the pivoted lever-pieces'41i, which comme at one end the as by the insulation 45. Thecircuit-ivires,

intrrconlaet with the fixed spriiigy contacts -tO it and holds them tirnily in contact, thus as hcreinbefore described. l `he springycontact-s 4041, in conjunction with'the broad su rface ot the leiser-pieces 43, which a'r'efalso slightlyspringy. given iiijinandet'fective coninorc reliable connection byV a `slight movetactiiig parts were rigid.-

lleretofore very great difficulty has been experienced iii electric signaling apparatus in preventing the accidental gi'oundingofthc track instruments by siio\v,\\ater, ice,'drt

cientl'y certain and ilexible. contact arrangeiiient for the circuit-terniinais;but by my flicreiniilnive-tlesci'ibed improvements I have i overcome Lheseditiiculties and ani enabled to Ywholly prevent the accidental grounding of the instruments and to obtain a certain und positive make and break of circuit at. the terstop l l ain able to regulate at will.

While I have described my invention as applied to electric railways, it must be under stood that. it is equally applieabie to steamtlic electric current derived from tlie feed wire A, which could be done by connecting and to the ground-wire :23 on the other, o initting wire A and the lampsI ofcourse, nudconiieeinLr the alni'in-"w-iiit from wir#` l! to tlm.

- terminals ni arecloscd by lthe rckiy, current l ture or terminal l to and through term balm Fig. il, or hy other obvious chance firs, such use of the appara-tus isfetit-c yavit my iiivcntionand its conteniplatedu iiicn't of thearniature than ifeitlierot't-lic eon.

t-hc battery' tothe signal-.wire lion one sideand wire :33 back to the battery S, as ewxkiu.,

di" x39' hin other, as by being mounted ori a base 42 ofiu- .l siilating material, and preferably having a conducting-piece 44, carried byl the free end v ofthc armature e, but insulated therefrom,.

-as 19 and 23, are secured to the respective terthe relay-magnets are c lencrgizcd, the armatact, withoutfi'ietioii,aiideitcct aqniekerand and ottici-'causes and in obtaining'n sui IIO initials, which hyiiieaiisof the adjustable railroads` by merely substituting abattcry for armature o or to Lerniiiiai i, so that when-fha will pass from the battery by wayin( w'r B through the ala-rin C and tlirotighthgl rma- WhatI claim as my invention, nu desi'r'c 1..,In electrical signal l apparatus the com- A bination with a track .having blocked rails, normally-closed circuit-breaking trackinstruments, normallyopen circuit-closing track instruments, a signal', a pair of normally-open circuit-terminals, and a relay having lan armature adapted to clos'e circuit between said terminals, of a source of electric energy, a connection therefrom to one termi-. nal of the relay-magnetcoilsl and a con nection tov the signal, a connection from the other terminal of the magnet-coils through the eircuit-breaking instruments to one of the circuit-terminals, a connection from the other circuit-terminal to the ground or grounded track, connections from each circuit-closing instrument to a circuit-breaking instrument,

and from each'blocked4 rail toaercnit-'closing instru ment', and a connection from the signal to the ground-wireLwhich connection is normally open at the circuit-terminals, Substantially as described. A

2. In electrical signal apparatus the combination with a track having blocked rails,

normally-closed circ u it-breakng track instrun1cnts, normall y-open circuit-closin g track instruments, a signal, a pair of normally-open circuit-terminals, and a relay having an armature adapted to close circuit between said terminals, of a source of electric energy,.a connection therefrom to one terminal of the relay-magnet coils in which connection the signal is included, a connection from the other terminal ol the magnet-coils through the ci rcuitbrealdugr iustrumeuls to one of .the ci rcuit-terminals, a connection fromthe other circuit-terminal to the ground or grounded' signal and a resistance is included,a comicov tion from the other terminal of the magnetcoils thro'ugh Athe circuit-breaking instruments to oneof the cireuit-terminals, a connection from the other circuit-terminal tot-lie ground 'or grounded track, a connection from each circuit-closing instrument to a=circuitbreaking instrument, and from each blocked rail to a circuit-closing instrument, subsi-antially as described.

li. In electrical signal apparatus, in colnbination with a track having blocked rails, sprliig-supported track-bars adjacent to lllo rails and adapted to contact with the carwheels, a closed case secured beneath each triwk-bar and ini-losing insulated spring-ront'acts and a vspring-supported plunger which carries a transverse contact-piece between said contacts and has a stem protruding from l7o said ease and adapted to be depressed by the!" track-bar when the latter is depressed by the car-wheels, the cases in which the contactpiece is normally in contact with the springi contacts constitutingcircuit-breakinginstru- 75 ments and those' in which the contact-piece is normally out of contact with the spring- -contacts constituting circuit-closing instruments, asigna-l, a pair of normally-open circuit-terminals, a relay having an armature $0.. .adapted to close circuit between said termi-, V nais, a source of electric energy, aconneetion therefrom to one terminal of tle relay-mag-- net coils and to the signal, acon'nection from the other terminal of the magnet-coils through 85 the circuit-breaking instruments to one o f the circuit-terminals, a connection from the other circuit-terminal to the ground orgroun'ded'track, a conjieetiop from cach circuit-closlng instrument to,acircuit-breaking instru- 9'0 ment and to a blocked rail, anda connection from the signal to th Vrelay-'armature, substantially as described.

5. Inclectrical signal apparatus, in combi,-

nation .with a track having insulated rails-1,915

five spring-supported track-bars adjacent to the rails and adapted to contact with the carwheels, a closed. case secured .beneath 4each track-bar and incl'osing insulated spring-contacts and a spring-supported plunger-which Io carries a transverse contact-piece between said contacts and has a stem protruding from said`case and adapted tobe depressed by the track-bar whenthe latter is depressed by the car-wheels, the central and outer cases' hav- :o5

ing their transverse contact-piece normally in contact with the spring-contacts and com-i stituting circuit-breaking instruments, and j the cases intermediate between the central and outer cases having their transverse conno tact-piece -normally out of contact with the spring-contacts and constitutiugeircuit-elosing instruments, a signal, apair of normallyopen circuit-terminals, a relay having an armature adapted to close circuit between said rr 5 terminalsa 'source of electric energ f, aconnection therefrom to one terminal ot' the relay-magnet coils and to the signal, a connection from the other terminal of the magnetcoils through the circuit-breaking instruno ments to one of the circuit-terminals, a connection from the other circuit-terminal to the ground or grounded track, connections from4 each circuit-closing instrument to a circuitbreaking instrument and to a blocked rail, x25

and a connection from the signal to the relay-armatmc, substantially as described.

lntestimony whereof l hereto affix my sigmiture in presence of two witnesses. 

